LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers reduced the Cardinals' lead for the second National League Wild Card spot to one game with an 8-5 victory at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. The two playoff contenders have two more head-to-head games remaining this weekend, meaning Los Angeles has a chance to push St. Louis out of postseason position if it reels off two more wins.

As it is, though, the Cardinals remain the chased. Behind the Dodgers, Pennsylvania's two teams sit three games back. The Brewers (3 1/2 games) and D-backs (4 1/2 games) also remain within striking distance, though both missed chances to gain ground on St. Louis by also losing on Friday.

"Their bullpen came in and did a really good job throwing strikes and making pitches," Matt Carpenter said after the Cardinals fell to 4-5 against the Dodgers this season. "The good news is we can come back here [Saturday] and get right back on it."

From the other side Dodger Stadium clubhouse, a similar sense of urgency was expressed.

"This is a huge series and every game is so big right now," said Dodgers starter Chris Capuano. "It feels good to win."

Magic numbers
To calculate a team's magic number, take the number of games it has remaining and add one. Then subtract the difference in the number of losses between that team and its closest pursuer.

Tiebreaker scenarios
A tiebreaker game will be played to determine a division winner, even if the tied clubs are assured of participating in the postseason. If a division championship tiebreaker is necessary, the head-to-head record between the clubs will determine home-field advantage. If the head-to-head record is tied, then the division record will be the next tiebreaker.

If two clubs are tied for the two Wild Card berths, home-field advantage will be determined by the head-to-head record between the clubs. If the head-to-head record is tied, then the division record will be the next tiebreaker.